The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-19
CUMBERLAND COUNTY,
Annual Report Of the County Com
mIssioners-
FALLING Drunkards costs the County
$4,000.

The County Commissioners, Messrs. Chap
liu, Nutter and Prince, have completed their
annual report, which includes that OF the
treasurer. Mr.. j. NJ. Webb. The treasurer's
report, which is annexed, we give in full.
The report announces the expiration Of
the old lease Of the jail workshop by the
county to w. b. Drew and A. " Whitney,
and the execution Of a new lease to the same
part les for one year, dated Nov. 3ist, 1886,
for $500, secured by a $1,000 geld bond,
bearing six per cent. interest in gold. The
shop is running under the new lease. Bills
have been audited for S1O,626.32. The court
house account amounted TO S4, 400. Y, and the
iail account to S15,133.s9 VI this latter sum
$40 S06 40 was for prisoners board and key
fees. There were 10 prisoners In the jail
Nov 3Oth, 1886, against 1i3 same date 1885,
and 1852 were committed during the year, OF
which 1871 were males, and 81 females.
There were 502 committed for drunkenness,
as against All the previous year, SO United
States prisoners, and % poor debtors. The
municipal court account amounted to 9,769-
6S, Of which S7,3i2.33 were for officers and
witness fees, and S1663 for posting
officers 'fess and witnesses % fees and for post
ing libels are for the last six months in 1885,
and for the first six months In 1886, owing 70
the fact that these bills are rendered sem-
annually the bill for the last six months IN
1886 not being presented to the Commits
sioners for auditing until after the date OF
this statement. We would mention the fact,
however, that the bill rendered against the
county for posting libels for the last six
months in 1886, and which will come up in
regular course for auditing in January, 1887,
| is SLIT, making for the year last past the
| sum of S2,043 for this service.
1t is the duty Of the magistrate before
| whom the investigation Is had, to cause these
and fh.af in
| court has been 10 designate the recorder TO
/ do il, who does not do 1t as recorder and OH
/ Ger Of the court, but as private citizen, or
| person designated by the court. Should he
/ perform this service as recorder, his COM
/ pensation for the service would then be
| covered by his salary, (as a salaried officer Is
/ not entitled to fees,l which in this case would
| be Just and proper; as 1t appears to us to be
amply sufficient for all services rendered
| with this included.
The amendment to the liquor law passed
| at the last session Of our Legislature com
/ pelling magistrates to sentence Offenders 20
confinement in Jail for at least five days with
the privilege Of having such sentences re-
mitred upon sworn testimony by them as 70
where theylprocured the liquor upon which
| they became intoxicated, appears 10 be par
rem of results, other than an expense TO the
| county of about six thousand dollars.
We would further say in this connection
that the compensation Of officers who are
specially deputiZed TO enforce the law
| against the sale of intoxicating liquors
| should be by salary or per diem compensa-
tion only; as by the present arrangement OF
fees for services rendered, IL the officers sue
ceed In driving rumseller out Of business
they thereby lose customer in their bust
ness, and hence lessen c0rrespOndingly theiI
own compensation.
This is not as it should be, for no Officer
should receive punishment for the faithful
discharge of duty imposed upon him b,
law In justice TO the tax payers Of thI
county this matter should engage the atten
tion Of the legislature at an early date
For 1887 the Commissioners recommend
their proposed estimate of S7o,10O. For 1SS
the receipts are estimated at $4,000; cash OF
deposit, SIG, 1880; amount of tax for 1881
SAC, 600; total, SS0,957.50 For 1883 the esti
mated expenses are S7SsOO, and receipt
s24, 800, which latter sum, with the tax 10
that year Of $4,000. makes total Of So, 500